I just graduated from Catawba Valley Community College with my Associates in Arts degree. Iím going to transfer that degree to †UNC Wilmington in the fall. UNCW is just a short drive away from the beach, and the campus is beautiful. Basically, itís heavenóif I completely ignore the fact that I wonít actually be vacationing there for the next two years. But itís the next step in my academic career, and Iím ready for it.

†At one point, the little community college in Hickory, North Carolina was my next step, and I was actually a little scared when beginning CVCC. I obviously had no experience with public education (unless driverís ed counts) since Iíd been homeschooled my entire life. I didnít know if I would even do well in such a setting. Turning in assignments to a professor is certainly much different than giving them to my mom.† But, even if I didnít know it yet, my schooling had given me skills that I would need to move forward to community college. Here are six things I learned as a homeschooler that prepared me for it:

Time Management

In college when your class times are all over the place and assignments vary from 10-page essays to 20-slide presentations, the way you organize your time will greatly affect the quantity and quality of the work youíre turning in. When I was in high school, I was responsible for getting the work done that was on the schedule which was given me. The weekís work was laid out before me on a neat chart, and I could see what was coming, and what assignments were important to prioritize. I would read my textbooks, do my online lessons, write my papers, and then throw that schedule in the trash for the week. Basically the week was mine to organize as I needed, as long as I finished everything when it was due. Admittedly, I donít love the effort it takes to effectively budget time, and Iíve always been an expert at leaving things for the last minute. But thatís the thing about time management, I think. Itís all about strategically picking what to leave for the last minute.

Responsibility

I had no expectations, when going to college, that professors would organize my work for me or keep reminding me when something is due or to give my grades a boost when I donít do well. College is an environment where the professors look at you as an adult, and expect you to keep track of your grades or to remember that assignment date even if they only told you once. Youíre paying for your education, and youíre there because itís your choice. Iíve seen a lot of my fellow students become outraged because the professor didnít extend the due date or curve grades or the fact that a professor gave work that required critical thought instead of just scouring the book for a bolded term. Maybe I just got classes full of whiners. But maybe the reason I have never felt the way those students did is because homeschooling has caused me to not have those types of expectations. Or maybe it was because, as I said before, the responsibility of the organization of my high school work was mine, and I would do what was needed to keep that power in my grasp. Itís probably a combination of both.

Writing is Important

I have never met a paper grader as precise and critical as my mom. Maybe itís because she used to have various writing jobs in the big NYC before my siblings and I became her prime focus. But itís also because she knows that being able to lay out coherent thoughts is important in many facets of school and life. I donít think my mom believes in giving hundreds for papers. Whenever I turned them in, they would be returned scattered with marks and words typed in red explaining that I needed to reword an unclear sentence or write a better introductory sentence or ending sentence. I would have to look over the sheets for my momís corrections and notes and rewrite, erase, and rearrange things before she would be satisfied with it. When I turned my first paper in my ENG 111 course at CVCC, I didnít expect to be getting a perfect score. I did get a 100, and many more after that, though I wasnít sure if it was just because Mr. Ganser handed out hundreds like water. He did. But then when I moved onto other English classes, my grades on papers would remain high whether they were one-page or ten-page. I think that the important emphasis my mother was able to place on writing because she was in control of my education has caused me to understand that I should put effort into everything that I write. And that itís important to always seek to develop my writing skills.

Critical Thinking

Recently, what is called ďcritical thinkingĒ has exploded into an obsession in CVCC. Itís the idea that you should spend your time forming your own ideas and opinions about things and truly understanding instead of just memorizing information. This idea wasnít new to me, though I hadnít given it a label. I think that as a homeschooler I was able to have more time and flexibility to actually understand a subject. I was able to dig into the subjects myself and work through them at my own pace. I was always encouraged to consider my own opinions on topics, and always around family who had discussions about a variety of subjects. Being homeschooled allowed the schooling to be individualized for me and caused me to approach ďcritical thinkingĒ naturally.

Education is Important

I did not always love being a homeschool student. At times I was convinced that I was missing something good that everyone else had. But as I became older, I realized that one of the reasons my parents decided that my siblings and I would be homeschooled is because they wanted to have control and be very involved in the education their children were getting. The effort that was put in by my mother when it came to the work I had to finish and the records she kept showed me that value that she placed on my education. Because of this, I have always viewed school as something to take seriously and to try to succeed in it in the best way I could.

But Academics are Not Everything

Being homeschooled, I was always around my family. Weíve taken long trips together because of the flexible schedule, and Iíve had the privilege of traveling through much of the US. The opportunity to see different placesóto change my point of viewóhas reminded me that there is so much out there to see and to learn about beyond textbooks. Whether youíve had the chance to travel as a homeschooler or not, the emphasis on the importance of a relationship with the family often goes along with homeschooling as well. Maybe Iím just being prematurely nostalgic since Iím moving to UNCW in August.

These are only some of the ways that being homeschooled prepared me for taking on college. And as I prepare for the next step, Iím sure that the ideas I bring with me will give me the mind to succeed.

And to the parents of homeschooled kids who are about to go to college, I can only imagine how awesome it must feel to know that you actually did it. Youíve given your kid much more than you know.

Whew #1: My oldest daughter came home from her last classes at community college this week, expressing a mixture of relief and excitement that she finished her Associates Degree. Her sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from having completed this has given her a great zeal for jumping into her major at the 4-year university sheís transferring to in the fall. Sheíll soon be dealing with a new life away from home and facing additional challenges, but for now she plans on relishing the time off, and sleeping in.

Whew #2: †My next oldest daughter took her SAT on the same day the other one graduated, and will be attending community college full time in the fall. Weíve had our rough patches along the high school path, (difficulties with math, and some time management issues), but overall, I am pleased with the outcome. Having taken dual enrollment courses over the past year, my daughter feels confident and ready to move on. We still have to update her transcript and take care of admissions and registration later this summer, but for now, I am relishing the fact that Ö..

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Whew #3: †I will have a break from homeschooling high school for a couple of years. Yah, I still have two more to go, (they will be in 7th and 4th grades this fall), but I wonít be dealing with transcripts, course descriptions, and specific requirements for a while.

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At times I have felt a bit bogged down by the oversight and management aspects of homeschooling, not having much time for the fun and flexibility. With some time off from the higher grades, Iím hoping to get involved with some more local homeschool co-ops and groups (in addition to our Swim & Gym program at the YMCA, and science classes at the local science/art museum). We are finishing up some math and grammar, and weíll do our standardized tests in a couple of weeks (mandatory here in NC) †-- and thatís it. Summertime, and a much-anticipated hiatus.

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Wishing you all a great summer.

-And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. - Gal. 6:9